DDOT adds 28 more new clean diesel coaches to fleet to offer better customer experience, higher environmental standards

• Buses offer newer features including USB charging ports, video screens

• Transit system has lowered average age of its coaches to under 6 years

• 20 additional new coaches coming by early 2023

• DDOT looking for drivers, hosting several upcoming recruitment fairs

Detroit’s Executive Director of Transit Mikel Oglesby discusses the 28 new clean diesel buses DDOT has received to replace 28 older models as part of DDOT’s ongoing efforts to provide a modern, reliable and more environmentally, friendly fleet.

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) continues to expand and improve its fleet of buses with the recent addition of 28 new cleaner diesel-engine coaches, giving the transit system it’s youngest and most environmentally friendly fleet in its history.

The 28 new, 40-foot coaches, from bus manufacturer New Flyer, will use an environmentally friendly fuel blend of 20 percent biodiesel and standard diesel, known as “clean diesel.” The new coaches will allow for the decommissioning of 28 coaches added to the fleet in 2010, DDOT’s oldest buses still in active service. While the 2010 coaches also used clean diesel, engine technology has improved significantly so the new buses produce fewer emissions overall.

With the addition of four pilot program electric buses to DDOT’s fleet in May, a total of 32 new coaches have been added to the fleet so far this year. Of the 292 coaches in active service, the 288 non-electric coaches use clean diesel technology as per the engine manufacturer and EPA standards. Per its fleet replacement plan, DDOT will add an additional 10 buses later this year and 10 more early next year.

The addition of the new coaches brings the average age of the fleet down to 5.8 years, from 6.9 years before the new coaches came into active service. When Mayor Mike Duggan took office in 2014 and began systematically replacing aging buses, the average age of the fleet was nearly 10 years, just shy of the FTA retirement age of 12 years/500,000-miles.

Read the full story at DDOT adds 28 new coaches (detroitmi.gov).

DDOT Recruiting New Coach Operators

DDOT is hosting several job fairs to recruit new transit equipment operators (bus drivers), coach service attendants (bus cleaners), and auto mechanics.

In-person job fairs will be held:

• Tuesday, Aug. 16 and Thursday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; VIRTUAL recruitment fairs – apply online to receive the invite to these virtual job fairs. More information can be found at detroitmi.gov/driveforddot.
• Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., IN PERSON recruitment fair at DDOT Shoemaker terminal, 5149 St. Jean.

City donates 500 decommissioned computers to be refurbished and provided to Detroit families

• Part of Partnership with Human-I-T to provide free technology to lower income Detroit residents to bridge city’s digital divide

Detroit resident Jami Jackson works for Human-I-T to refurbish donated computers to put them back to work for Detroit families

Hundreds of City government computers recently replaced for newer models will be completely refurbished and distributed for free to Detroit families in need of technology and access to the Internet, thanks to a partnership between the City of Detroit and nonprofit Human-I-T.

The donation of more than 500 decommissioned City computers is part of the City’s larger strategy for bridging Detroit’s digital divide through its partners at Connect313.

Half of the computers were delivered today, and the remainder will be delivered in the coming weeks.  All 500 computers first will be wiped of any existing and sensitive data. Most will be refurbished to be provided to Detroit families lacking access to technology by Human-I-T and its community partners.  Devices that may be damaged or too old to be refurbished will be disposed of in an environmentally sensitive manner.

If a family receiving a donated computer does not currently have internet access or needs assistance, Human-I-T uses a 4-pillar approach to helping citizens acquire computer devices and internet access, as well as with tech support and training.

Residents of Detroit who would like access to low-cost computers, laptops, and tablets, or help getting reduced-rate broadband internet, or tech support or training can call 888-391-7249 or visit Human-I-T.org.

Since opening in Detroit in August 2020, Human-I-T has delivered the following local impact:

• 28 jobs at its Focus: HOPE facility; 14 held by Detroit residents (50 percent)
• 14,042 laptops & tablets distributed
• 2,756 households connected to high-speed, low-cost internet
• Over 7,000 Wi-Fi hotspots distributed
• 17,750 tech support tickets completed to support DPSCD students
• Over 1,000,000+ pounds of e-waste processed

For more information, read the full story at City donates 500 decommissioned computers to Detroit families (detroitmi.gov)

City of Detroit tackles blight removal, remediation a priority in executing Mayor Duggan’s Blight to Beauty strategy

• Cross-departmental effort to reduce blight on 14 priority corridors.

• Property owners to be held accountable for blight on their buildings and surrounding their property per city ordinances.

• Multi-year strategy to transform Detroit and impact issues related to blight including improving quality of life, public health and safety, and reinforcing positive visual cues.

The City of Detroit blight remediation team plays an important role in executing Mayor Duggan’s Blight to Beauty strategy. Using enforcement, remediation, and maintenance strategies, the Blight to Beauty initiative promotes property maintenance standards and improves the appearance of properties throughout the city.

The City is empowered by law to clean up blighted property when a blight ticket has been issued and the violations have not been corrected by the property owner. The cost of remediation is then added to the blight ticket fines and fees. Remediation invoices can range from several hundred dollars up to tens of thousands.

The blight remediation team is simultaneously addressing City-owned properties while holding private owners accountable for dilapidated structures that have added to negative impacts across Detroit for decades. The City is remediating, on average, 26 properties a week. Blight to Beauty is grounded in a belief that residents deserve a healthy environment.

14 Commercial Corridors Made a Priority

The City of Detroit Blight Czar Katrina Crawley, Esq. is tasked with ensuring that blight remediation is transformative in making Detroit the beautiful city that residents deserve.

In the last four months, the blight remediation teams have completed remediations on 427 properties on 14 corridors around the city.

For more information, read the full story at Blight removal, blight remediation (detroitmi.gov)

Mayor Duggan announces nonpartisan Detroit Votes 2022 Program to make civic participation a priority

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced this week the City is launching a new nonpartisan program, Detroit Votes 2022, to make civic participation a core priority for the City.

Detroit Votes 2022 will provide voter registration and voting information to citizens via businesses, colleges, civic organizations, and our sports teams, during the 2022 general election.

Mayor Duggan also is committing to using his office to communicate with eligible voters about how they can register and where they can vote. He has asked city departments to include nonpartisan voter registration information when residents contact city departments, and will update the city website with easy voter registration links.

Detroit Votes 2022 workers began just before the August primary election, knocking on more than 15,000 doors. Between now and the November general election, they expect to reach 100,000 homes.

In addition, July billing statements from DWSD already contained a reminder message to be sure to register for the upcoming election. From now until the November 8th election, the Department of Neighborhoods will conduct a citywide door-to-door canvass reminding Detroiters of upcoming election dates and the many ways they may cast their ballots in the city.

In 2020, new voting laws were implemented due to the passage of Proposal 3, in 2018. Proposal 3 created straight-ticket voting, automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, and no-excuse absentee voting. The COVID-19 epidemic also caused state and local voting jurisdictions to encourage early voting and vote-by-mail to ensure public safety.

As a result, Detroit’s voter participation increased by 10 percent overall and by 250 percent in absentee voting and 11,729 citizens registered to vote. We encouraged new registrations and participation via text messages, phone calls and letters sent to the homes of unregistered voters, with voter registration and education information.

Read the full story at Nonpartisan Detroit Votes 2022 Program (detroitmi.gov)

The City of Detroit is providing doses of the Jynneos vaccines to Detroiters who have been exposed to the Monkeypox virus or who suspect they have been exposed. The vaccines are made available through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

The vaccine will be used as first doses during initial allocations from MDHHS to Detroiters in need on the following basis:

• Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) – To prevent development of the virus in individuals who have been exposed to the Monkeypox virus
• Expanded Post-Exposure Prophylaxis – Individuals with risk behaviors in geographies, settings, events or venues with known Monkeypox virus transmission in the previous 14 days

Monkeypox vaccinations are being administered at the following locations:

• Wayne HIV/STI Clinic at 50 East Canfield
  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  1st & 3rd  Saturdays 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

• Detroit Health Department at 100 Mack Avenue
  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Further information about the Monkeypox virus, and who should get vaccinated, is available by calling the Detroit Health Department nurse hotline Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at (313) 876-4444 or sending an email to dhdoutbreak@detroitmi.gov

Read the full story at Monkeypox Vaccine Available (detroitmi.gov)

Sandra Yu Stahl, Toni Stewart-Limmitt to lead Detroit’s Office of Contracting and Procurement 

• Stahl replaces Boysie Jackson, who has served as director since 2013

• Limmitt promoted to deputy director

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced this week that General Services Department executive Sandra Yu Stahl has been appointed Deputy Chief Financial Officer/Chief Procurement Officer to manage purchasing and contracting for City government. Per the City Charter, CFO Jay Rising made the appointment.

As director of the General Services Department, Stahl has led operations for Detroit’s facilities, vehicle fleet, parks, recreation, blight remediation and animal control. In addition to the 800 employees and $150-million budget for City services she had been leading, Stahl last year took over responsibility for the rollout of $200 million of ARPA-funded projects including expanding recreation centers, implementing the Skills for Life workforce development, and beautification projects across Detroit. In filling this cabinet-level position, Stahl becomes the highest ranking Asian-American in City government.

Stahl named Toni Stewart Limmitt, a highly respected executive in OCP as her deputy. Limmitt has over 20 years of experience in procurement, having worked at Rouge Steel, Severstal and AK Steel and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department before joining OCP in 2017. Before this promotion, Limmitt was serving as OCP’s Associate Director for ARPA Administration and Procurement Strategies, making certain the City is in full compliance with complex federal procurement guidelines.

Read the full story at Sandra Yu Stahl, Toni Stewart-Limmitt (detroitmi.gov)

The Detroit Health Department is inviting parents and children to its Back-to-School August Health Blitz over the next several Saturdays in August. .

Upcoming clinics, which all take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., are:

• August 13 – Pasteur Elementary at 19811 Stoepel
• August 20 – Butzel Family Center at 7737 Kercheval
• August 27 – Kemeny Recreation Center at 2260 S. Fort

For more information, call (313) 774-5233.

Mayor Duggan invited by President Joe Biden to signing ceremony at White House

Do Your Part to Keep Detroit Clean

The City of Detroit collects bulk items (all year) and yard waste (April – December) every other week at the curb. Here are some reminders:

Bulk Items
Bulk items and yard waste should not be mixed. Those items should be placed in separate piles at the curb.

Yard Waste
Yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, twigs, etc.) should be placed in paper lawn bags. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected.

When items exceed the bulk limit or include materials not collected at the curb (like construction debris), residents have options.

DPW Paid Pickup Service
The Department of Public Works will pick up items for $40 per cubic yard. Call (313) 876-0004 for details.

Use FREE Drop-Off Locations
Residents can dispose of their bulk, yard waste, and household hazardous items for free. Go here for details.

For more information on how to keep the City clean, visit keepdetroitclean.com.

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